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This poor hive

You might remember the install from hell, well this turned into the summer of hell! Come 7/4 I had a ATV accident where I got crushed & while recouping I failed to think about my Bees ENOUGH. We got a drought in August that never ended. I was cocky because there is so much water on my property that I forgot FOOD! I forgot the drought meant no late nectar! Sigh it was october before I realized my error and started feeding the hive. i have a 42" hive that the bees only occupy 1/2 & the back comb is empty. I am thinking I do not have enough honey stores for our harsh winter. we have already had a cold snap where a bunch of bees died.

Re: This poor hive

It sounds like you have a top bar hive? If so reduce the area with the follower board or if it's a box hive take off the supers and reduce the area for them and feed feed feed make candy and put over the top bars.

Re: This poor hive

A guy posted just yesterday (Thread "Feeding pollen patties to top bar hives" on Bee Forum board) about how he makes a u-shaped basket out of chickenwire stapled to a top bar and slips his candy in that way. It sounded like an excellent way to put candy in a TBH.

Re: This poor hive

My top bar did not come with a follower board, I made a hasty one in spring but it does not seal against the hive. I'm gonna make one outta 3" blue board. I have insulated the roof and I am going to wrap the hive in foam insulation(lying around) and plastic.

Thanks for the candy recipe! The one i have has had varying results none great.

I have fed dry sugar, they didn't eat as much sugar as they drink in syrup; candy going in today.

The entrance to the hive is filled with dead bees already, this looks bad. once this candy goes in, I will have to wait until spring; but i am not optimistic.

I worked so hard on this hive when it arrived and I doubt I can come up with enough money for new bees this spring. Well, live and learn, but I need to redesign the TBH if this hive dies & for any future hives. It was an experiment to see if bees could live up here at 7000ft on natural forage, I still don't know as the weather was extreme to start a hive this past year.

Re: This poor hive

I have two follower boards that came with my purchased hive, one solid one with a hole. Both look to fit tight to the sides of the hive, but through my observation window I spotted a SHB larvae hiding from the bees between the side of the follower and the glass. When I needed to make a new follower that gave the bees feeder access instead of a hole I cut it to have beespace on the sides and bottom. The bees seem to be fine with it and it can no longer be a pest haven. I don't want to give SHB any extra places to hide from my bees.

I hope that candy works out for you. I found the link to that recipe on an old thread but haven't tried it yet. I got my bees to take enough bee tea that they should be fine until spring. If they make it through winter I will add some in the early spring to get them to brood up (because of the added protein).

Re: This poor hive

Funny you mention that, my follower, not a tight fit, is made out of sign board. this year it will have to wait, but next year I M THINKING blue board sandwiched w/sign board for winter. For now I am putting some foam(lying around) in a garbage bag stuffed into the roof, plus the space age insulation already on the roof, then wrapping the hive in foam inside plastic and waiting until spring

Re: This poor hive

Hope they make it!

I ended up making a candy "bar" ;D for one of my hives and then the candy in the hardware cloth pouch for the other. We have had a lot of over fifty degree days and I got scared they would go through their stores too fast. I slipped the candy in quickly Sunday while the temp was over 50. I checked on the bees in the hive with the observation window later and they were checking their new stores out. Both the bar mould and the pouch seemed to work well. The bar was fussier because I had to make the mould but it gave them a lot more candy. The pouch was quick and will be easier to refill and will work with patties as well. Both keep it off the bottom board and therefore allow for fewer pests to hide and multiply.

Re: This poor hive

Originally Posted by brianbonner

Take pics of the hardware cloth bar when u get a chance I will make one up for spring

Will Do. It might be a while, I'll have to wait for the first warm enough day that I am home or I will take pictures of the other bar and mould I have. I thought of it too late but I should have taken pictures when I made them or before I put them in the hives.